Method of making a container



Dec. 22, 1964 A. R. REIN ETAL METHOD OF MAKING A CONTAINER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1962 INVENTORS Dec. 22, 1964 REIN ETAL3,162,100

METHOD OF MAKING A CONTAINER Filed Dec. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY a zUnited States Patent Ofi ice 3,162,10ti Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,100METHOD OF MAKING A CONTAINER Arnold Robert Rein and Roland NorbertWendricks, Harrington, 111., assignors to American Can Company, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 26, 1962, Ser. No.246,919 8 Claims. (Cl. 9355.1)

This invention relates to the manufacture of containers of fibre orsimilar pliable materials used for the packaging of liquids, such asmilk and juices, and has particular reference to a method ofconstructing such a container having a tubular body and a substantiallyflush, telescopically fitted end closure.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of a method efmaking a sanitary container wherein the top end closure is substantiallyplanar in configuration and is secured to the tubular body in a flush,leak-proof joint which provides for shedding liquid or other foreignmatter to prevent unsanitary fouling and unsightly appearance.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved methodof assembly of a fibre container body and end closure adaptable toassembly at the dairy or packers own facility.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved methodof assembling fibre containers to produce a leak-proof joint in a simpleand efficient manner without extensive forming and sealing equipment.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a method ofassembling fibre containers, which method is readily performed in thepackers own facility and is suitable for incorporation into packaginglines with a minimum of modification to existing equipment.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

With these objects in View, the present invention contemplates a methodof making containers by forming a tubular body having marginal flangesextending from its side walls, partially deforming these extendingflanges inwardly along lateral fold lines at the end of the body,bringing into position over the inwardly deformed flanges an end closurehaving a planar panel and side flaps adapted to be folded at rightangles against the body walls, moving the body and the closurerelatively together to fully deform the flanges into underlyingsecurement with the panel, and folding and securing the flaps againstthe body walls to provide a flush, leak-proof end joint.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container made in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the body blank used in thecontainer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top end closure blank used in the containerof FIG. 1. a

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantimly along line 4-4of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the components of the container of FIG. 1 inposition just prior to their assembly, and illustrates one arrangementof means for practicing the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one corner ofthe container takensubstantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View showing the containercomponents being moved together inthe initial stage of their assembly.

FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 7, showing the components fullyassembled.

The container and its components illustrated in FIGS.

1-4 are of the generally preferred construction to which the presentinvention relates. A container of this general configuration isdisclosed in US. Patent No. 2,346,684 issued April 18, 1944 to I. M.Ho-thersall on Container. As shown, it comprises a tubular, rectangularbody generally designated Ill, a substantially planar top end closuregenerally designated 11 telescopically fitted to the end of the body,and a hinged closure 12 secured to the top end 11 in registry with apouring opening 13 formed therein. A bottom end closure 15 completes thecontainer structure.

Body 10 is fabricated from a p re-formed body blank 10' as illustratedin FIG. 2. This blank comprises side panels 16 defined by parallelfold'lines 17 and integral flanges 18 extending from the side panels. Arelatively wide fold or score line 19 extends the length of the blank atthe juncture of flanges 18 and panels 16. Flanges 18 are formed bynotching the blank at the terminus of each longitudinal score line 17,thereby providing the adjacent flanges with angular edges 20 whichconverge to an apex at the terminus of score line 17. It has been foundthat the notch angle should slightly exceed and the apex of the notchshould extend to the inner side of score line 19, this constructionavoiding crowding or wrinkling of the fibre material when the flangesare folded and providing a smooth abutment of edges 20 in the finallyformed seam. A glue or adhesive strip 21 may be ap plied along thelength of the blank parallel to and contiguous score line 19.

Top end closure 11 is provided in the form of a planar blank 11'illustrated in FIG. 3. This blank comprises a central fiat panel 22dimensioned to correspond to the cross section of tubular body 10 andmarginal flaps 23 extending from its sides. formed at the juncture ofthe flaps with panel 22, and the blank is notched at each corner to formthe end edges 25 of the flaps. A suitable adhesive or glue 26 is coatedto the underside of the blank so as to cover the peripheral margin ofpanel 22 and preferably extends outwardly over each of the flaps 23. Ifdesired, suflicient adhesive may be applied to the flaps so that theadhesive strip 21 on body 10 is not necessary. Alternately, flaps 23 maybe left entirely free of adhesive, in which case adhesive 26 is appliedonly to panel 22 and the adhesive 21 on body 10 is relied on forsecuring the flaps to the body walls.

In the assembly of the container illustrated in FIG. 1, body blank 10 isfirst shaped into tubular configuration in any suitable manner, anexample being by folding it at right angles along fold lines 17 on amandrel or like fixture and sealing its opposed transverse edges in alapped side seam 27. The blank may be dimensioned and formed so thatside seam 27 is disposed either in one of the side walls of body 10 oratone of its corners. Top end closure 11 is then assembled to body 10,in a manner next to be described, to form a substantially flush, rightangle end joint as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this construction, bodyflanges 18 are fully deformed inwardly at right angles to body walls 16to underlie and engage closure panel22. Similarly, closure flaps 23 arebent downwardly at right angles to telescopically conform to body sidewalls 16. The notch edges 20 and 25 of the body flanges and closureflaps, respectively, are brought into abutting contact when thecomponents are assembled. Adhesive strip 26 (and also 21 if used) notonly secures the components together but also is made to flow over theedges of body flanges 18 as at 28 to protect these edges againstmoisture attack and to partially flow as at 29 and 39 between theedges25 of the closure flaps 23 and between the edges 20 of body flanges18 to fill these interstices and fully caulk the seam joint.

The preferred method of effecting this type of assembly.

isillustrated in FIGS. 5-8, wherein is shown an arrangement for movingbody 10 and closure blank 11' rela- Score or fold lines 24 arev tivelytogether and forming the top end seam. This comprises a reciprocableplatform 40 on which body is supported in upright position byregistering bars 41, a telescoping die generally designated 42 disposedabove the platform in axial alignment with body 10, heating means 43positioned between the die and platform and adapted to extend about thecontainer body, and cross feed means 44 for successively feeding endclosure blanks 11 from a magazine M into position between the die 42 andthe top end ofbody 10.

Die 42 is provided with a cavity 45 which opens toward platform 40 andwhich is the same general crosssectional configuration as that oftubular body 10 but slightly larger in dimension to accommodate thethickness of closure flaps 23 The die cavity is provided with taperedwalls 46 which extend from the open end of the cavity inwardly apredetermined distance to merge with straight walls 47. The face of die42 nearest platform is recessed as at 48 to receive a resilient orrubberlike member 49 which surrounds cavity 45. A conduit line 50 maycommunicate with cavity to provide a slight vacuum therein to facilitateregistering and holding closure blanks 11' in proper alignment as theyare successively shifted into position onto resilient member 49. Conduitalso may provide the means for venting the die cavity to facilitateentry of the components therei as they are assembled.

Heating means 43 is here shown in the form of a manifoldsurroundingcontainer body 10 and is provided with a plurality oforifices 51 for emitting heated air or the like against the respective,cooperating surfaces of body 10 and closure blank 11. 'Orifices 51 areappropriately positioned to heat and thereby activate adhesive strip 26on the bottom surface of blank 11' and to heat the upper surface of bodyflanges 18. If body 10 is provided with adhesive strip 21 ashereinbefore described, the orifices may be adjusted in size or positionto also activate this but are deformed a sufficient amount so as toremain in an unrestrained, inward inclination. This is an importantfeature in that itpermits the assembly of the end closure without theuse 'of an internal support or without the necessity of deforming thebody walls in the end seam v has been found that when body flanges 18are initially i deformed, body 10 possessessufilcient rigidity of itselfto permit the fitting and securing of closure 11 in a flush, leak-proofseam.

With closure blank 11' positioned across the open end of die cavity 45in registry with body 10, manifold 43 is operated for a periodsufiicient to render adhesive 26 pliable. Platform 4%) then moves towardthe die to bring the body into contact with the closure blank, as shownin FIG. 7. Body flanges 18 are the first to make contact and, because oftheir inclined attitude, are caused to plow' into and slide throughvadhesive 26 as they press against the lower surface of closure blank11'. The raw edge of each flange thereby moves inwardly to build up adeposit of adhesive at 2 8, which deposit adheres to these edges whenflanges 18 reach their full right angle deformation to provideprotection against exposure of these edges to the contents of thecontainer.

'At this point in the assembly operation, the pressure exerted againstclosure blank 11' is minor so that flaps 23 react against-resilientelement :49 with only slight downward deformation."@Continued upwardmovement A of body 10, however; forces closure blank 11' upwardly intoYdie cavity 45. so that flaps 23 are pulled firstthrough member 49, thenupwardly against tapered walls46, and finally intothe innermost endofthe cavity against straight walls 47 (see FIG. 8). This upward wipingmovement forces closure flaps 23 downwardly into telescoped engagementwith the margins of body side walls 16 where, after a brief instant toallow the adhesive to set, they become permanently secured. During thismovement, the inclination of body flanges 18, which increases to a fullright angle as the components move together, stiifens body 10sufficiently to provide reactive pressure against closure flaps 23. Whenthey reach their full right angle position, body flanges 18 presstightly against closure panel 22 and become secured there as theadhesive sets. Thus, a simple assembly is accomplished without the needfor high sealing pressures or for drastically deforming any of thecontainer components, and provides a flush, fully caulked end seam ofexcellent abuse resistance and leak-proof quality.

Although the above description has been directed primarily to the topend closure and its assembly to the container body, it will beunderstood that bottom end closure 15 may be of similar configurationand secured to body 10 in the same manner. As a practical matter,however, the bottom end is usually the first to be assembled and permitsgreater flexibility in its construction and method of securement to thecontainer body. That is, the interior of the body is readily accessiblefor assembly of the first end closure so that a mandrel or otherinternal support fixture may be used to provide forming and sealingpressure without difliculty. Accordingly, bottom closure 15 may beprovided in the form of integral flaps extending from the bottom of theside panels of a preformed body blank or, for that matter, may be thetype of construction disclosed in the hereinbefore referred toHothersall patent. Whichever the case, an insertible fixture may beused, if preferred, for internal support and sealing pressure, whetherthe container is to be assembled in the packers facility or otherwisefabricated. Top end closure 11, on the other hand, cannot be assembledwith the aid of an internal fixture, at least one of practical design,and is therefore ideally suited for assembly by the method of thisinvention.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the steps of the processdescribed and their order of accomplishment without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the process hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A method of making containers, which comprises the steps of providinga tubular body having marginal flanges extending from its side walls,partially deforming said flanges inwardly along lateral fold lines wheresaid flanges and Walls are joined to initially rigidity said body,positioning over said flanges an end closure having a planar panel andside flaps extending therefrom in registry with said side walls, movingsaid body and said closure relatively together to fully deform saidflanges into parallel planar relationship and underlying securement withsaid panel, and folding and securing said flaps against said side Walls.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said flanges and said flaps aredeformed into their respective positions and secured by bringing saidbody and closure together in one continuous, relative movement.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said flanges are initially inwardlydeformed to an unrestrained position and thereafter fully deformed atright angles to said walls by the pressure of contact with said panel assaid closure the steps of providing a tubular body having marginalflanges extending from its side walls, partially deforming said flangesinwardly of said walls to an unrestrained position, positioning oversaid flanges an end closure having a planar panel with side flapsextending therefrom in registry with said side walls and a coating ofpliable adhesive on its surface nearest said flanges, and assemblingsaid body and said closure by moving the two relatively together tofirst bring the edges of said partially deformed flanges into slidingcontact with said adhesive and then to fully deform said flanges andsaid flaps into secured engagement with said panel and said side walls,respectively.

6. A method of making fibre containers, which cornprises providing atubular body having marginal flange portions extending from its sidewall and externally supporting said body with said flange portionsprojecting toward a telescoping die, positioning between said body andthe die and end closure having a planar panel with peripheral portionsadapted to be folded over the side of said body and a heat-softenedadhesive on the margins of its surface nearest said flange portions,heating said adhesive to render it pliable, moving said body and saidclosure relatively together to bring the edge of said flange portionsinto contact with said pliable adhesive, and moving said closure andsaid body together into said die to fold and secure said peripheralportions over the wall of said body and to deform said flange portionsinwardly into underlying securement with said panel, said edge of saidflange portions thereby being caused to slide inwardly through saidadhesive to caulk said edges and any interstices present in theresulting seam.

7. A method of fabricating tubular containers of pliable material suchas fibre, comprising the steps of forming a body blank having side wallportions with an integral, trapezoidal flange extending from an end ofeach side wall portion, forming said blank into tubular configurationalong longitudinal fold lines and securing its opposed longitudinaledges together to provide a tubular body, folding said flanges inwardlyalong fold lines formed transversely of said wall portions at said endto rigidify said body, positioning over said flanges an adhesive bearingclosure blank having a central panel substantially equal to the exteriorcross dimensions of said body with an integral, rectangular flapextending from each of its sides, activating said adhesive to render itpliable, moving said body and said closure blank relatively together tobring said flanges into contact with the peripheral margin of saidpanel, continuing to move said body against said panel solely byexternally applied pressure while restraining said flaps to fold saidflaps telescopically over said side wall portions to form an end closureand cause said pliable adhesive to migrate between the cooperatingsurfaces of said body and said closure, and temporarily holding saidbody and said closure under externally applied pressure to allowsaid'adhesive to set to provide a substantially flush, fully caulked,leak-proof seam.

8. In the method of assembling a fibre container having a leak-proofjoint between a tubular container body having discrete flanges appendedto each of the body walls and an adhesively coated container end closurehaving discrete flaps appended to the end closure central panel andbeing transversely coincident with said container body walls, the stepscomprising aligning said end closure in spaced relationship over saidcontainer body, folding said flanges inwardly an acute angle from theplane of said body walls, activating said end closure adhesive to renderit pliable, moving said body and said end closure relative to oneanother to cause the edges of said inwardly folded flanges to slidethrough said activated adhesive and thereafter to cause said flanges tofold further inward to form substantially right angles with said bodywalls and to thus be parallel to and adhesively secured to said endclosure central panel, and continuing said relative movement to causesaid flaps to fold downward to form substantially right angles with saidend closure central panel and to thus be parallel to and adhesivelysecured to said body walls.

Walker June 29, 1937 Hatch Dec. 31, 1946

5. A METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF PROVIDINGA TUBULAR BODY HAVING MARGINAL FLANGES EXTENDING FROM ITS SIDE WALLS,PARTIALLY DEFORMING SAID FLANGES INWARDLY OF SAID WALLS TO ANUNRESTRAINED POSITION, POSITIONING OVER SAID FLANGES AN END CLOSUREHAVING A PLANAR PANEL WITH SIDE FLAPS EXTENDING THEREFROM IN REGISTRYWITH SAID SIDE WALLS AND A COATING OF PLIABLE ADHESIVE ON ITS SURFACENEAREST SAID FLANGES, AND ASSEMBLING SAID BODY AND SAID CLOSURE BYMOVING THE TWO RELATIVELY TOGETHER TO FIRST BRING THE EDGES OF SAIDPARTIALLY DEFORMED FLANGES INTO SLIDING CONTACT WITH SAID ADHESIVE ANDTHEN TO FULLY DEFORM SAID FLANGES AND SAID FLAPS INTO SECURED ENGAGEMENTWITH SAID PANEL AND SAID SIDE WALLS, RESPECTIVELY.